Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-09-03

appear on 1t in letters Of flaming scarlet.
Will you take it and wear it9"
Now Yuddi had always been q very
good little girl. Her mother had taught
her how wicked it. was to lie, and the
teaching had gone home. 1t was not,
however, without some little tremor that
Yuddi answered:
II will take it, ana try to be worthy
to wear it, oh my good Fairy"
"That is well. hope you will keep
it long. But there are other conditions
to the gift. If the fatal word appears on
it, you must instantly take it of. Then
the scarlet letters will fade away, and
you must find some one to take it from
you. That person you must watch. If
he or she wears it in truth and purity all
is well; # not, you must seek till you can
discover a proper and faithful owner.
Will you premise to do all this2"
al WILL" replied Yuddi, who was so
determined to deserve to keep the cloak
that the last-named conditions did not
greatly trouble her.
"Then let me place it round your
shoulders; and may all the Powers of
Good grant you strength long to retain
it,"
With infinite gentleness and tenderness
the Fairy wrapped Yuddi in the cloak
and laid her back upon the rustling
couch. A moment later and all was dark
and still. Lulled by the warmth of her
new covering Yuddi sank almost in
stantly into sleep. When she awoke
again the morning was far advanced.
Her father had long gone to his daily
toll: but her mother stood over her look
ing in wonder at the magic garment.
''In the names of Brahma, silva and
Vishnu," exclaimed the wondering
woman, when she perceived her daughter
to be fully aroused, "where did you get
that cloak?"
Then Yuddi told the marvellous story;
ard the good woman, who had strong
belief in the supernatural, and who,
moreover, had never had cause to doubt
her child's veracity, accepted it without
q murmur.
"You are indeed blessed, my only one"
she said as she clasped her to her breast.
"Strive to retain the Fairy's gift"
All that morning Yuddi was intensely
happy, but at the hour of noon her
father came home to his meagre dinner.
He, too, saw the cloak, and was told its
history. But he scoffed at the tale, and
accused poor Yuddi of having found or
stolen the cloak and then attempting to
deceive him. The poor little girl was
deeply wounded. Never before had her
word been mistrusted. On telling the
story the second time to one who was
unsympathetic, she began to realize how
almost impossible il sounded. So, later,
when she went out wearing the cloak,
and some children crowded around her,
and asked where she got it, she unhap>
PLY equivocated. In an instant the
dreadful word "falsifer, " in the flaming
letters of tell-tale scarlet appeared upon
her back. Her companions ran from
her screaming with fear. Yuddi tore off
the cloak, and almost blinded with bitter
tears rushed home, and sobbed out her
unavailing grief to her mother. That
good woman comforted her as we'll as
possible, and tried to show the child
that even if she had lost the cloak, she
had been taught lesson which she
ought never to forget.
Yuddi was, however, almost heart
broken, and it was only when her mother
reminded her that she still owed duty
to the Fairy, that she reused herself a
little from her sorrow. 81 will keep my
word in that at least" she said. 81 will
go to the good Rhasta, my master, and
offer it to him." Without loss of time
she sought the wise old man, told her
story and offered the cloak.
"My child" he said, as he took it, 81
will try to wear it. But am old and
know the world and men well. To
few it can be given to be absolutely
truthful. fear am not of those. Come
IN me in the morning
When Yuddi returned Rhasta was no
longer wearing the cloak
II have lost it sooner than expected,
my child. You know how poor l am
and how few pupils l have. Last night
the father of Rhum Cat came to me and
asked how his son was getting on.
thought to myself, if l tell him how
hopelessly stupid Rhum Cat is, he will
be taken away. did not tell the truth,
and I am punished, for l have lost both
cloak and pupil. When the father saw
the word upon my back he said his son
should come to me no longer"
Apain Yuddi resunnnd her oueet for a